Sessions 9 and 10 | 1pm to 3:45 pm

Friday, October 31st 2014

BIM Junkies Life on the Lines
Lab | Parts A & B
Jay B Zallan VDC BIM Director
Class Description
When you complete this course and
start to live your Revit Life on The
Line, you will be able to create Line
Based Families for any occasion;
from Adaptive Components to
standard Revit Families; Cabinetry to
Trelliss; Retail Fixtures to Site Layouts,
Detail components and the
obligatory: more... Class Description
Key Learning Objectives
1. Learn methods to create Revit content that fits Early Design
through Construction and on into FM and Operations.
2. Learn techniques to communicate, make and manage
flexible Revit content, not only in size and shape but in Use
Cases.
3. Master techniques to build Revit Line Based Families that
interchange as project needs vary & new teams take over the
models.

Tags: Architecture, BIM Management, General (multi-discipline).
Advanced




JayZallan@gmail.com @JayZallan
BIM Junkies Life on the Lines
Jay B Zallan | VDC BIM Director

Page 2 of 19



About | J

Architecture|Technology|Creativity
These are J ay B. Zallans professional passions.

An oft intense and well experienced VDC BIM Leader. J ay is also an
Artist and AECO technologist; has worked in AECO running the gamut
from Designer to Project Manager and on into the VDC BIM leadership
realms.

Bringing unique & qualified insights into the business & creative
processes of AECO J ay focuses on helping teams deliver on project
success goals. Building efficient project delivery, communication and
collaboration strategies J ay leverages technology and teamwork
toward such ends.

Mr. Zallan has more than 20 years of Architectural experience and
enjoys a varied & diverse portfolio of Architecture and Art.

J ay is an Autodesk Expert Elite member, Autodesk Implementation
Certified Expert, he is the AUGIworld magazine Revit Editor and
Graphic Standards BIM Advisory Board contributor, as well as President
of the Los Angeles Revit Users Group.

J ay is and has been a highly rated speaker at Autodesk University, Revit
Technology Conference North America as well as Europe, The BIM
Workshops and a lecturer on Creativity & Architecture at the University
of Southern California, Cal Poly, LACMA, as well as various AIA & CSI
events.

Portfolio: http://jbzallan.wix.com/portfolio
Email: J ayZallan@gmail.com
Twitter: @J ayZallan
BIM Junkies Life on the Lines
Jay B Zallan | VDC BIM Director

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First Line of Attack | Planning
These concepts and (maybe all family) methods can be transposed to
many, many other families; at times exactly, at times similarly, at times
just in spirit. Planning is fundamental to creating with predictability,
flexibility andsuccess.


Planning schema for BIM (& life ;-)

Assess
Consider what you want, when you want it. Assess the parametric
needs, graphic needs, informational needs, etc. Think (about what is
needed now as well as what might be needed later; one can always
make the family progressively more complex), Re-Consider (how
complex it needs to be), Re-Think (the final output needs...don't put in
any more than you need but no less either). Also mix-in conversations
with others...this always helps prove or disprove perceived concepts
and usually saves overall project time. And then
Plan
Plan how to create what you want, when you want it, etc Capture
and diagram everything from the assessment phase and strategize the
desired results. (A Family-Planning example is included at the end of
this document!)
Create
Create the best you can; and what that means is better than you ever
have previously. The planning should allow this! If training is needed; do
it. Remember the internets Someone has most likely done it before,
BIM Junkies Life on the Lines
Jay B Zallan | VDC BIM Director

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or at least tried something similar and by reading others successes and
failures you can propel yourself further than you might have expected
previously.
Validate
This is to find out if in fact the content project is moving forward
successfully. Validate the first piece, the first set of pieces and the entire
libraryDo an honest review, use a peer group as wellfind if it truly
works perfectly and if not then repeat the process for those items,
rebuild until perfect and then move forward.






















Line(r) Notes | Families and their Templates
Flex (Test) at Every Step (The better one gets the more this needs
to be done consciously ;-)
BIM Junkies Life on the Lines
Jay B Zallan | VDC BIM Director

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o Successful Flex=Save
o Unsuccessful Flex + Fix + Flex again (Repeat until Successful
Flex)
ALWAYS MAKE AT LEAST 1 TYPE!!! NO MATTER WHAT!!!
If you dont create at least 1 Type DO NOT PASS GO DO NOT
COLLECT $200 and YOURE FIRED ;-)
Its a recommended to setup family templates with objects that
will be repeated throughout (like Line Styles, etc.) This may
generate many .rfts for each kind of family template but it does
follow a standard BIM workflow:
o Make it Once, Use it Many Times
Modifying a family template
Create a family from an existing .rft
Save the family
Make modifications
Save
Change .rfa to .rft (accept the Windows warning)
Some items will not go away after this so do be mindful of
what is included in the modifications

Our Plans | Lining Up
00 | Preliminary Geometry | Detail Item | Seed Family
Sheet Waterproofing
01 | Detail Item | Line Based Component
Sheet Waterproofing
02 | Generic Model w/ Nested Casework | Line Based Rig
Kitchen Base Cabinet
03 | Generic Adaptive w/ Nested Column | Line Based Rig
Corinthian Column
BIM Junkies Life on the Lines
Jay B Zallan | VDC BIM Director

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00 | Preliminary Geometry | Detail Item | Seed
Family
STEP 00 | Make Geometric Seed Family
(Included in Lab Materials we can skip this step in class ;-)
If you have only one line needed you may not want to nest as we
are...but if there are more than one (and I can see many more) then
this method does fit with the build it once, use many times
philosophy...
PROCESS | Big R (Application Button) >New >Family >Detail Item.rft >
Create Length Parameter: Create a vertical Reference Plane (RP)
to the right of the insertion Ref Plane, Dimension (from Ref Plane
to Ref Plane >Parameterize the Dimension >Name=Length >OK
| Once back in the family environment flex the dimension (now
a parameter) to verify that it works; if so move on, if not undo
and start step 00 over)
o Save As: 01 00 Seed Lines
Create One Type per Line Style (Line styles are pre-made for this
lab but in your world these would need to be created ;-)
o Family Types > New Type > Dash 05 > Apply > New Type >
Dash Dot Dot 05 > OK
Draw a Dash 05 line and lock it to the horizontal Ref Plane, be
sure to snap to vertical Ref Planes so Length works >Flex, if good
Save (If not retry) >Select the line and push the Associate
Parameter button to the
right of Visible (per
image below) >Make a
New Parameter called
Dash 05 (this will be a
visibility parameter that
well hook up to the
Type) > OK
Draw a Dash Dot Dot 05
line and lock it to the
BIM Junkies Life on the Lines
Jay B Zallan | VDC BIM Director

Page 7 of 19


horizontal Ref Plane, be sure to snap to vertical Ref Planes so
Length works >Flex, if good Save (If not retry) >Select the line
and push the Associate Parameter button to the right of Visible
>Make a New Parameter called Dash Dot Dot 05 >OK

Setup the Types Make sure the proper line is associated to the
similarly named Type.
Flex Length, etc.
Save (When working properly)
Load into Project (Included in Lab Materials we will skip this step
in class ;-)










Seed Family with Dash Dot Dot 05 and Dash 05 lines shown individually

01 | Detail Item | Line Based Component
Our planning process ;-) dictated that we create the detail component
with the following requisites: (Note: T = Type, I = Instance)

Family Name | Sheet Waterproofing
Type Name 01 | Tyvek
Type Name 02 | Typar
Parameterization: Length (I) Built-in | Family Types (T) | Offset from
placement points (I)

BIM Junkies Life on the Lines
Jay B Zallan | VDC BIM Director

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STEP 01 | Make the Family
PROCESS | Big R (Application Button) >New >Family >Detail Item Line
Based.rft
o At this point one would nest (AKA: load) in the Seed Family (But
this is Included in the Lab Materials we will skip this
step in class ;-)
STEP 02 | Make Two Types
PROCESS | Family Types Button >New Family Types >
Name Tyvek >New Family Types >Name Typar > OK
>Save.
The Family Types Button
Family Types dialog
STEP 03 | Create Offset Parameter
(So there is a variable gap between our insertion and the geometry).
PROCESS | Reference Plane (RP) -Input above families Ref Plane
(about 3 to 6 away, exact distance not important (yet)) >Create a
Dimension (from Ref Plane to Ref Plane (NOT REF LINE) >Parameterize
the Dimension >Name=Offset >OK | Once back in the family
environment change the dimension (now a parameter) to 1, if it works
move on, if not undo everything and start step 3 over)
STEP 04 | Create Geometry
PROCESS | Load the seed family from step 00 (if not already done ;-)
>Place an instance of one type of the nested family (location not
BIM Junkies Life on the Lines
Jay B Zallan | VDC BIM Director

Page 9 of 19


important (yet) > Select it and from the Options Bar: >choose Label >
Add Parameter Name it Geometry Type >OK. >Save.
This Family Types Parameter allows hot-swapping from the Families
Type Dialog
STEP 05 | Nested Family Type | Graphics Control
PROCESS | Family Types > Set Geometry Type for
Type Typar to be Dash Dot Dot 05 >Apply >
Change Type to be Tyvek >Set Geometry Type for Tyvek to be
Dash 05 >Apply >Flex back and forth and if types change properly
Save (If not go back and retry).
STEP 06 | Nested Family Type | Geometry Control
PROCESS | Select nested Family
01 00 Dash 05 > push the
Associate Parameter button for
Length >Set that to Length
(yes thats what I just wrote:
(Length from nest)=(Length in
Host)) >Select nested Family 01
00 Seed Lines >push the
Associate Parameter button for
Length >Set that to Length
(yes again and for every Family
Type built) >Save.
STEP 07 | Nested Family |
Geometry Control Locking
PROCESS | Align Each nested family to the vertical, insertion Ref Plane
>Lock (per image at right) >Align each nested family to the Offset
horizontal Ref Plane >Lock >Flex >Save (or ;-)
BIM Junkies Life on the Lines
Jay B Zallan | VDC BIM Director

Page 10 of 19


STEP 08 | Final Flexing | The Real Test for Success |
The Project
PROCESS | Create a new Project from an OOTB (out of the box)
template >Load the family >Place a few of each and switch types,
change their lengths, etc. to see if it all works >If working OK to load
into a real projectif not something needs fixing ;-)

Yes, one does need to
fuss with the corners to
get them to meet with
this method, due to the
Offset (unless you build a
parameter one that we
can say, that has a
formula that equals the
Offset parameter that
will keep it away from the
direct click-locations by
the same distance as the
offset and make corners
joined at creation ;)

With these, you will now
have the ability to Tag, Keynote, and generally have some I
(Information) for our BIM!!! THIS IS the overriding point and will enable
better projects, by adding consistency to Details

and we can employ a NEVER USE LINES approach except Sketch
mode, Area and Room separators that is ;-)


Voil | End of 01 | Line Based Detail Component

BIM Junkies Life on the Lines
Jay B Zallan | VDC BIM Director

Page 11 of 19


02 | Generic Model w/ Nested Casework
| Line Based Rig
The concept for the Cabinet Family this process creates can be used
as a guide for many other families and rigs; even empty Design Rigs
that simply wait for geometry to be nested and associated...
STEP 01 | Make the Family
PROCESS | Big R (Application Button) >New >Family >Generic Model
Line Based.rft

STEP 02 | Preliminary Setup
PROCESS | Change the "Length" parameter to 8'-0" >Save

BIM Junkies Life on the Lines
Jay B Zallan | VDC BIM Director

Page 12 of 19


STEP 03 | Nested Family Setup
PROCESS | Open a Casework Family (Vanity Cabinet-Double Door Sink
Unit.rfa) >Change Width to an Instance Parameter >Set the
Shared checkbox to checked (yes in the yes/no schema) >Load
into Project and place near the
insertion Ref Planes of the Line Based
Family >Save.
Checking the Shared box
allows the Host (Generic
Model) Family to remain
unscheduled from our
Casework when in a project,
while enabling the cabinets to
schedule as individuals. If the
line based was changed to
Casework wed get messy
schedules.

BIM Junkies Life on the Lines
Jay B Zallan | VDC BIM Director

Page 13 of 19


STEP 04 | Create Offset Parameter
PROCESS | Reference Plane (RP) -Input below the families insertion Ref
Plane (about 3 to 6 away, exact distance not important (yet)) >
Create a Dimension (from Ref Plane to Ref Plane (NOT REF LINE) >
Parameterize the Dimension >Name=Offset >OK | Once back in the
family environment change the dimension (now a parameter) to 2, if it
works move on, if not undo everything and start step 04 over)

STEP 05 | Locking and Rigging
PROCESS | Align
and Lock to the
vertical Ref Plane
(Left side of
cabinet to the right
side of Center
Left/Right Ref
Plane) > Align and
Lock the back of
the cabinet to the
bottom of the
Offset Ref Plane

In case you
didnt know
;-) The
intersection
of the Center
Left/Right and the Center Front/ Back Ref Planes is the insertion
point of the family (AKA: where it will be on your cursor)...If you
dont already know these are Strong References and they also
Define Insertion...if you dont fully understand the differences
between Ref Planes please refer yourself to F1 ;-)
BIM Junkies Life on the Lines
Jay B Zallan | VDC BIM Director

Page 14 of 19


STEP 06 | Setting Up The Multiples
Now, some of this may seem odd but go with me...
PROCESS 06a | Push the Family Types button >Add the parameters:
Number of Cabinets Instance, Integer
Cabinet Spacing Instance, Length
Cabinet Spacing Maximum Instance, Length >OK.






























BIM Junkies Life on the Lines
Jay B Zallan | VDC BIM Director

Page 15 of 19


PROCESS 06b | Select the locked cabinet >Associate its Length
parameter to Cabinet Spacing >Array (that cabinet) to End >
Constrained >Group and Associate >Quantity: 3 >Align/Lock all
instances to the Offset Ref Plane >Align/ Lock the last one (far right) to
the ending Ref Plane.

PROCESS 06c | Select an instance of the groups >Select the Array
Control Line and associate it the parameter Number of Cabinets.
Note: the odd part is the Array Control Line disappears when
you're able to select it...can you say known bug?

Below is an image of the Control Line selected... The oddity is that
the Control Line seems to disappear or at least go invisible when
hovering over it, so if you want to select it (and we do) and that
control line disappears then click there, you are sure to select it
since it looks like you can't. Yes that IS what I said. Perhaps one
day we will get an answer from the developers as to why this is
the case...still...







The "Number of Cabinets parameter being applied to the Array
Control

PROCESS 06d | Add formulas
So now make the parameters be the following formulas and values,
making sure to hit APPLY after inputting each formula. (Remember
formulas ARE case sensitive!!!):
Number of Cabinets =Length / Cabinet Spacing Maximum
Cabinet Spacing Maximum =4-0
Cabinet Spacing =Length / Number of Cabinets

BIM Junkies Life on the Lines
Jay B Zallan | VDC BIM Director

Page 16 of 19


PROCESS 06e | Create a dimension from the CL of one of the cabinet
groups and the CL of the one next to it >Associate Cabinet Spacing
Maximum to the dimension >Flex >If this flex appears to break it
Remove Constraints(Even though it may appear to break, it will still
work)
So we can flex, verify, load it into a
test project flex there and input
them via the Component
command...once verified then
load into a project.
Final Notes:
Do you want to build in a
Countertop?
Use a nested family!
Want to make an overhang
parameter for left, right and front, as instance parameters too so those
can be variable? ...Add an Upper Cabinet to the mix just like these
lowers and you have a kitchen design rig that will get you off and
running... Add Family Types Parameters for hot-swapping later and
youre cooking with fire ;-)












Voil | End of 02 | Generic Model Line Based Rig w/ Nested
Casework

BIM Junkies Life on the Lines
Jay B Zallan | VDC BIM Director

Page 17 of 19


The Last Stop on the Line
OK, now were onto our final piece, the puns are about to stop, but do
take note, this last section has one main intention: To show that in most
every case Adaptive Line Based Families are going to bring better
results in shorter timeframes, allowing development and strategies to
blossom.

The piece we will create could have used the cabinet but I have two
reasons not to use that same example:
1) Using the same pieces would be boring in a lab

2) I want these concepts to be built upon and combined, so using
different examples and processes should illustrate more and thus
open more possibilitiestherefore that is where we will go now, in
this lab Shall we?
03 | Generic Adaptive w/ Nested Column
| Adaptive Line Based Rig
STEP 01 | Make the Rig Family
PROCESS | Big R (Application Button) >New >Family >Generic Model
Adaptive.rft
STEP 02 | Create Variable Reference Line
PROCESS | Create>Draw>Point Element>Place two (2) points (I like to
align these to a ref-plane)>Set them to be Placement Points Adaptive
(in the properties palette)>Select the two points>Spline Through Points.
Step 03 | Create a Divided Path
PROCESS | Select the line>Divide>Divide Path
You will now see the divided path and its nodes on top of the
reference line.
Step 04 | Set the Division Method
BIM Junkies Life on the Lines
Jay B Zallan | VDC BIM Director

Page 18 of 19


PROCESS | Select the divided path>Properties palette>Layout>
Maximum Distance


In this exercise we are
using Maximum
Distance, but different
choices for different
uses of course ;)



Step 05 | Parameterizing a Parameter
We do this to enable variation from the project level, without having to
use edit family

PROCESS | Click the Associate
Parameters button>Add
Parameter>Then setup as
follows:
Name:
Column Spacing
Maximum
Kind of Parameter:
Instance
Group parameter under:
Constraints
Interim Extra Credit:
Click into the Edit Tooltip
button and write a tooltip that
actually explains how to use
the family!!! WINNING ;D
You know the associate parameters button
right? If not its the tiny button to the left of
association-available parameters, in the
properties palette
BIM Junkies Life on the Lines
Jay B Zallan | VDC BIM Director

Page 19 of 19


Step 05 | Nesting the Column
PROCESS 05a | Open the column family: 00 Corinthian
Column_Thx_Marcello Sgambelluri.rfa >Load (nest) that into the line
based adaptive family>Place at the first dividing node.

PROCESS 05b | Select the column>Modify | Columns>Modify>Repeat
-See image for the (yes tiny) Repeat button

I love that Autodesk hides
huge functionality in tiny
places, like minimal buttons
and excruciatingly tiny
arrows, etc.

Below are images of the
result in the family, followed
by the result in a project
environment. (The project
environment has been
changed to Maximum
Spacing to be 5-0

Voil | End of 03 | Generic
Adaptive Rig w/ Nested
Column